| Washington Wizards:
Jordan's Future
With Steve Wyche
Washington Post Sports Writer
Thursday, May 8, 2003; Noon ET At a Wednesday meeting, Wizards majority owner Abe Pollin told Michael Jordan the team would not bring him back as president of basketball operations. In a statement released later that day Jordan said that he was "shocked by this decision, and by the callous refusal to offer me any justification for it." Washington Post sports writer Steve Wyche was online to discuss the decision, the situation surround the termination and Michael Jordan's brief tenure with the Wizards. The transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
London, England: It seems to me that the primary reason for Jordan's dismissal was that Pollin's inner circle felt threatened and overwhelmed by Jordan's presence. While Jordan definitely made mistakes, Pollin's unwillingness to even try to iron them out suggests that Jordan's errors were not directly responsible for his firing. Pollin owns the team and has every right to run things his way, but aren't the Wizards now headed down the way of the Clippers -- a league laughingstock, content to muddle in mediocrity? Doesn't Pollin have any fear that he is Donald Sterlingizing himself? Steve Wyche:
Here we go. Thanks for the questions.
Though Mr. Pollin is very sensitive about his image, I don't think he feels or cares what too many people feel about how he runs the team. He feels he ran things appropriately when the team was one of the league's best in the 1970s and that he knows what he is doing.
Washington, D.C.: To my old layman's eyes, it seems the Wizards have a real problem in defining and acting on what it takes to build and hold a winning team.
I'm not taking one side over the other here.
But in the end, it's really Abe's ball. If he wants to take it home that's his prerogative, isn't it? Or are there just too many cooks in the kitchen? Steve Wyche:
You hit it right on the head. This is Abe Pollin's team and he's going to run it the way he feels is appropriate.
Baltimore, Md.: Steve, thanks for taking time to chat with us. This may be jumping the gun a bit, but with Michael gone, all signs point toward Doug Collins not returning as well. I don't know if you could speculate on that, but it seems to me that if he does go, the first call the Wizards should make is to Paul Silas. Right now, this organization is in serious need of credibility, and Silas, who by all accounts is a high-character person (as well as a very good coach) who commands respect, would provide that. Could you see this happening? Or would Silas even want to jump into such a chaotic situation as this? Thanks a lot. Steve Wyche:
Doug is still the coach, but you are right. typically when a major figure of a team is fired, people he brought in are let go as well. If Doug Collins is fired, I'm sure Paul Silas would be on the short list. He is credible, demanding and is well liked by his players. No one knows if Paul Silas would want to come here but there's an old adage I think we could all relate to, it's better to have a job than to be out of work.
1st St. NE, Washington, D.C.: Was this at its heart a decision designed to placate Kwame Brown and keep him here in DC? Seems to me like Pollin was faced with a choice between attempting to salvage Kwame's career with the Wizards with new management and coach, or keeping Jordan/Collins and watching his #1 pick get up and leave at the end of next season. Thoughts? Steve Wyche:
The franchise did say that part of its decision to let Jordan go was because of player dissention. I don't know if that meant it was simply to placate Kwame, but if he is part of the team's future, that could have played into the thinking. Typically, though, management tends to consult with established players about such changes, but, who knows? Maybe the Wizards felt that Kwame is part of their long-term plans and his feelings weighed heavily into the shaping of the team's front office.
Arlington, Va.: I don't know why everyone is so shocked that Jordan wasn't asked back. Maybe I am one of the few people who never really bought into the "cult of Jordan", but to me the picture of him driving off in his car -- still with Illinois plates -- said it all. For the past few years, all we heard about was Michael this and that, but not much about the rest of the team. I was never convinced that he really wanted to stay here and become part of the community and I am sure Abe Pollin saw that too. He may have been great for the bottom line, but for the whole team -- NOT! Steve Wyche:
I think people heard a lot about some other players -- Stackhouse, Brown, Hamilton, Alexander, Haywood, Dixon -- however Jordan did drive the news, and, as you pointed to, ticket sales. Since I have not spoken to Abe Pollin, I do not know if he thought Jordan wasn't committed to the team or the area. The reasons cited for not re-hiring him did not indicate that.
Springfield, Va.: Sounds like you are in the Pollin Camp, Steve. Yes, no one is denying that it is Abe's team and that he has the right to run it the way he wants. But that is true of every business owner, every CEO, every Board of Directors, every mom and pop owner. That does not and should not prevent them from being criticized, and criticized heavily, when they do things the wrong way. That is what some of us are doing. Steve Wyche:
I totally agree with you having the right to criticize. It is not my job to criticize anyone. I am here to answer questions, not judge anyone. As a reporter, I have to be as objective as possible and try to provide information. I hope you understand that.
Herndon, Va.: Mr. Wyche: Great articles and coverage on this debacle! Of great interest to me was the varying views of columnists Boswell, Jenkins and Wilbon. Where does your opinion fall -- more Jordan's fault, more Pollin's, more somebody else? Steve Wyche:
Once again, since I am a reporter, I can not express my opinion on things one way or the other. I can only do my best to provide fair and accurate information. I'm sorry if that sounds like I'm sidestepping things, but that is the situation beat writers have to deal with.
Arlington, Va.: Will Pollin go outside "the family" for a new GM and coach? More importantly, why would a quality GM or coach candidate come to then Wizard mess? Steve Wyche:
It will be very interesting to see where the Wizards go to look for a general manager. I think, with Wes Unseld taking a leave of absence, they will explore a lot of avenues. They have a lot of options too. They can look for a younger GM, who can grow with the team. Or they can go with a more established GM, who can put together an operation quickly and has a reputation that could help him swing trades and lure free agents.
I think a lot of people would want to come here. It might take a nice financial lure but a lot of people want to try their hands at working. The Cincinnati Bengals usually don't have a problem finding coaches do they?
McLean, Va.: Since it's Abe's team, let him sit in all 20,000 seats because we fans will not be attending. MCI Arena will become an empty cavern. I'd rather stay home and watch NBA on TNT or TBS. Susan O'Malley and Wes Unseld are amateurish incompetents. Look how quickly the Mavericks and Hornets became competitive. This cheap mom-and-pop operation has tortured us for too long. If MJ must go, then why not clean house with Susan and Wes? Steve Wyche:
You share a lot of the sentiments of a lot of people.
Washington, D.C.: What do you think of the media coverage in the Wash Post, NY Times, TV and radio of this sorry affair? I think the publishing of unnamed quotes by people in the Jordan and Pollin camps is bad stuff. Some local radio personalities are already trying to put a racial spin on the Jordan dismissal. Steve Wyche:
I think this is a good question. As a journalist, you always want somebody to put their name behind what they say, however, in sensitive matters, people don't always want to do that. If the information is solid, sometimes unnamed sources can provide needed information to the readers and viewers.
I think the coverage from most media outlets have been very good, though.
I've heard some of the talk of race in terms of Jordan's dismissal. I don't think race played a factor but to some, it might leave an impression that another minority was not given enough time to prove himself especially since his employers made a lot of money off of him.
Re: Ted Leonsis: Steve: If Ted Leonsis was really as gob smacked as they say over Jordan's firing, how does that bode for his relationship with Pollin? Leonsis is the guy who lured Jordan here -- and now Abe has gone and canned him, without talking to Leonsis first. Could Leonsis conceivably walk away too? Steve Wyche:
As far as their relationship stands, it's hard to tell. It has been a professional one but feelings are said to have been strained at times. With this episode following Leonsis's comments about how his Washington Capitals have been treated, I would think there could be some hard feelings there.
I'm not sure what type of arrangement Leonsis has with Pollin about walking away from this deal. I would think Leonsis could try to sell his shares of the hockey team and Washington Sports and Entertainment but I don't know if he has an agreement with Pollin that the buyer has to be approved by Pollin.
Leonsis also has several partners who might want to increase their stake or get out. No one knows right now.
I doubt if Pollin would buy back all the shares of the basketball and hockey teams.
Washington, D.C.: Steve, you hit it on the head. We are now the LA Clippers, the Cincinnati Bengals... the downtrodden of the NBA East. Every thing about the Wizards over the past 20 years has been shortsighted. Ugly uniforms, drab colors, awful nickname, cheap mascot, inept front-office management. The downtown arena and MJ's arrival were the only highlights since 1978. Who'd thought we'd long for the Bob Ferry decade of mediocrity. Abe has overstayed his welcome and managed this franchise into the ground. Why won't he sell? He has a buyer-in-waiting. Steve Wyche:
Abe Pollin won't sell because he doesn't have to. This is his team. He has a buyer in waiting but Pollin, as confounding as it may be to some people, has the right to do what he wants.
Springfield, Va.: Because of this incident, do you believe Stackhouse will stay with the organization, or will he opt out? Steve Wyche:
Sorry about the delay. I don't think this factors much into Stackhouse's thinking. If he feels he can get a lucrative long-term deal on the free market he'll opt out, but he wants to be in D.C. and I think he'll play out the final two years here.
washingtonpost.com: That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion. © Copyright 2003 The Washington Post Company | 
